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Thursday, May 29, 2008

Dianne Odell

by David G. WoolleyI didn't know Dianne. She lived, until this week, at her parent's residence in Jackson Tennessee, 80 miles northeast of Memphis. She was 61 years old. Dianne spent 59 of those years laying on her back inside this 750 pound iron lung where she had control over one thing: the television clicker. She used her elbow to change the channel. Polio was the culprit. It infected her when she was three, just two years before a vaccine was approved to fight the paralytic disease.

When I saw the photo of Dianne I said, "That's too bad."

When the power at Dianne's residence went out and the stand by generator failed, not even her family's desperate efforts to operate the iron lung using a manual lever were enough to save her life. She passed quietly on a blustery Tennessee Wednesday afternoon, May 28th. Cause of death: power outage due to bad weather.

When I read about her story and how a power failure ended her life, I said, "What terrible luck for anyone to suffer."

But Dianne wasn't just anyone. She didn't let her circumstances dampen her enthusiasm for life. She earned a high school diploma while laying inside her iron cell and she wrote a delightful children's book titled "Blinky" about a wishing star. Her pen and paper? A voice activated word processor. I wonder if the wishes she made on that blinky star are finally being realized.

A lot of people helped Dianne the least of which were her parents who, for 59 years, bathed her, fed her and kept her company. There were other actors in this drama, friends like Frank Mcmeen who helped raise money for Dianne's equipment and nursing assistance. He said, "Dianne was one of the kindest and most considerate people you could meet. She was always concerned about others and their well-being."

You may think that Dianne was lucky to have family and friends who were willing to care for her. Voice activated word processing and elbow television clicker control don't prepare meals, change clothes, or do dental and doctor visits. There were a lot of caregivers. But if you're wondering who the lucky ones were, look to Dianne's parents, to her sister and brother-in-law, to friends like Frank. Dianne gave them the chance to care, the opportunity to give, and the hope of being found with a charity-filled soul. It was Dianne's luck that they embraced the chance.

If Dianne left any legacy, it is likely found peacefully entrenched in the hearts and souls of those who cared for her. Look close enough at her circle of family and friends and you may just find the one thing that has the power to save us all.

I think most of my favorite sentences of all time come from reminders to live more charitably with each other.

Thanks for re-reminding us.

I am excited about the release of Day of Remembrance too. Its been a long time in the making. It was the novel I originally intended to write when I started the Promised Land series and it has, at least, lived up to my expectations. I hope it will touch your soul and enlighten your mind with some history and some worthwhile doctrines. As well as some entertaining moments.

Featured Side Bar Posts

Where everyday you can join author David G. Woolleyand the Top of the Morning staff for informative, entertaining and uplifting commentary and opinion with special installments dedicated to the fascinating history,archeology, anthropology, and Book of Mormon writings that inspired the publication of five works in the Promised Land historical fiction series and continues to inspire the writing of three more. Check the side-bar below for some of our featured posts from David G. Woolley.

Top of the Morning Readers

The Language of Nephi (Part I)

Click this Mayan glyph to read Part I in a series on Nephite language by David G. Woolley

Birth of a Christmas Carol

Click this Christmas Carol portrait to read a Christmas Short Story by author David G. Woolley

Don't Fake It

Click this molecular photo of aspartame floating in your favorite diet drink to read a fascinating post about artificial sugar and your health by David G. Woolley

Who's A Nephite?

Click this Nephite running from the bruning City of Zarahemla to read this Book of Mormon post by David G. Woolley about who really is a Nephite.

Mission Impossible?

Click this Mission Impossible film still cut to read a Book of Mormon realted post on Christ's admonition to perfection by David G. Woolley

Unlock the Past & Your Soul

Click this recreation of the ancient Jewish Fort Lakhish to read Book of Mormon related post about digging up the ancient past by David G. Woolley

Tomato Soup Nazi

Click this tomato to read a light-hearted healthy post with a killer tomato soup recipe

Ancient Book of Mormon Borders

Click these "border" mountains to read a Book of Mormon post on Old and New World geography related to the restoration scripture by David G. Woolley

Worse Than Beer

Click these root beer bottles to read a funny family story about root beer imposters by David G. Woolley

Lehi's 600 Year "Tun" Prophecy

Click this Mayan calendar to read a Book of Mormon related post on Lehi's 600 year "Tun" prophecy and Alma's 400 year "baktun" prophecy

Do the Honest Thing

Click this once stolen Monet painting of "Two Women in a Boat" to read a post about art theft that spanned decades and destroyed lives

The Refiners Fire

Click this ancient metal rendering of a blacksmith to read the fascinating post on refiniing ancient silver and your modern soul by David G. Woolley

Soccer Dads and the Vote Recount

Summertime on a Shoe String

Click this Zion's Park cliff hanging photo for a fun post on summertime by David G. Woolley

Presidential Politics in Utah

Click Romney & McCain photo to read this entertaining political post by David G. Woolley

The Secret To Happiness

Click the fogged mirror for an insightful post from David G. Woolley

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled

Click this Winston Churchill photo for commentary on our times by David G. Woolley

Celebrating Ha-Zikaron

During the 2008 anniversary week between Joseph Smith's first visit with Moroni on the evening of September 21st and the Jewish feast-day celebration of the Feast of Trumpets on Monday, September 29th, author David G. Woolley and the Top of the Morning Staff presented a week-long series of posts dedicated to celebrating the Day of Remembrance. Links to the dedicatory posts can be found below in the side bar. We hope you enjoy being part of the celebration as much as we do.

On This Night

Click this well-known Joseph Smith and Moroni painting for an interesting Book of Mormon related post. Celebrating the Day of Remembrance with author David G. Woolley.

On This Hill

Click this wooded hill photo for a faithful Book of Mormon post. Celebrating the Day of Remembrance with author David G. Woolley.

On This Prophetic Date

Click this Hebrew calendar to read this cosmic Book of Mormon related tpost. Celebrating the Day of Remembrance with author David G. Woolley.

Sariah & the Brass Plates

Click this bell-shaped brass plate to read a fascinating Book of Mormon post. Celebrating the Day of Remembrance with Author David G. Woolley

Feast of Trumpets

Click this shofar (trumpet) to read a Book of Mormon related post about the Jewish celebration of the Feast of Trumpets. Celebrating the Day of Remembrance with author David G. Woolley

Divine Calendars

Click this mayan glyphic stone calendar to read an interesting Book of Mormon related post on the origination of calendars. Celebrating the Day of Remembrance with author David G. Woolley.

Happy Day of Remembrance

Click this Rosh Hashanah greeting card to read the final Book of Mormon related post in this series. Celebrating the Day of Remembrance with author David G. Woolley.

Eat Well, Live Well

The Top of the Morning staff is pleased to feature the following side-bar posts on healthy eating by David G. Woolley. We hope it helps you feel great.

The Business of Food

Click Veggies to read this popular healthy food introductory post by David G.Woolley

Raising the Red Falg

Click the flag for a sobering post on what we eat by David G. Woolley

Getting It Straight

Click this backwards clock for commentary on healthy eating by David G. Woolley

Gotta Have It?

Click this junk food for a post on healthy eating by David G. Woolley

The Gift of Tongues

Click this tongue to read a healthy post by David G. Woolley

Introducing the Promised Land

The Top of the Morning staff is pleased to introduce you to author David G. Woolley's Promised Land Series. You can visit his Promised Land Website or click on any of the side bar book cover icons below and have a look inside. Welcome to the Promised Land.

The Promised Land Website

Click on David G. Woolley at the Guatemalan ruins of Tikal to enter the Promised Land where you're sure to find the author hard at work in his writing room